I work with youth for an outreach organization that does extracurricular math and science. The organization has a bridge building competition and I was very excited about purchasing this item for that competition. The price for this machine is significant, and unfortunately not warranted.The issue for me was a bad connection between the force sensor and the readout. The readout, from initial plugin, reads, "Over the limit." It is possible to get the machine to work, but for the price it seems a ridiculous requirement.The machine is useless without a working connection. For me it was a giant waste of money.
- David Ramirez
Pitsco Structure Testing Instrument Kit
The Pitsco 36730 Structure Testing Instrument Kit applies pressure to model structures such as bridges or towers to test the structure's load capacity and is for use by students in grades 6-12 studying the scientific concepts of engineering, structural forces, and geometry. Its acrylic turn-force wheel applies pressure in small increments up to 800 pounds of force to model structures, allowing students to stop applying pressure at the first sign of structural damage. The instrument includes a digital display for showing the load reading and accessories, such as load plates and blocks, a tower shield, and structure supports for testing a variety of structures. The base is made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for stability and durability, and the posts and instrument frame are made of lightweight aluminum, which resists corrosion and tarnishing.
The included software captures the peak and current load and graphs the force versus time per structure, and it is compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. The instrument reinforces science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concepts as students test the load capacity of model structures. It measures approximately 8 x 23 x 8.5 inches (H x W x D) without accessories. (H is height, the vertical distance from lowest to highest point; W is width, the horizontal distance from left to right; D is depth, the horizontal distance from front to back.) It comes with an acrylic tower shield, wood roadbed load blocks, aluminum span columns, aluminum structure supports, steel span locking pins, steel threaded rods, a steel tower load plate, a power supply, software, and a USB cable. A structure testing instrument is typically used in an educational setting to test the load capacity of model structures.
Science education products incorporate applied math and science principles into classroom and homeschool-based projects. Teachers in pre-K, elementary, and secondary classrooms use science education kits and products alongside science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) curriculum to demonstrate STEM concepts and real-world applications through hands-on activities. Science education projects include a broad range of activities, such as practical experiments in engineering, aeronautics, robotics, energy, chemistry, physics, biology, and geology.
Pitsco Education develops K-12 science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) curriculum, educational kits, and classroom tools. The company, founded in 1971, is headquartered in Pittsburg, KS.
What’s in the Box?
- 36730 Structure Testing Instrument
- Acrylic tower shield
- Wood roadbed load blocks (6)
- Aluminum span columns (2)
- Aluminum structure supports (2)
- Steel span locking pins (2)
- 5-1/2-inch steel threaded rod
- 11-1/2-inch steel threaded rod
- Steel tower load plate
- Power supply
- USB cable
- Software
- Instructions
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